Memory frame magnet wire terminal



June 23, 1970 B. E. OLSSON 3,517,377

I I MEMORY FRAME MAGNET WIRE TERMINAL I I Filed May 9. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l W/I/II/l/A 30 26 5 26 II/IA 22 T FIGS INVENTOR BILLY E. OLSSON ATTORNEYS June 23, 1970 o sso 3,517,377

MEMORY FRAME MAGNET WIRE TERMINAL Filed May 9, 1968' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BILLY E. OLSSON BY I M401 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,517,377 MEMORY FRAME MAGNET WIRE TERMINAL Billy E. Olsson, New Cumberland, Pa., assignor to Berg Electronics, Inc., New Cumberland, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 9, 1968, Ser. No. 727,763

- Int. Cl. H01r 7/06 US. Cl. 339273 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed is a terminal for accurately locating and establishing an electrical connection with one end of a memory frame magnet wire. The terminal includes a body for forming a latch connection with a memory frame connector block and a wire mounting portion having a wire orienting finger and a wire gripping finger separated by a contact portion. The thin magnet wire is threaded through the fingers, pulled tight against the orienting finger, and then physically secured in this position by the wire gripping finger. The wire may then be soldered or welded to the contact portion between the fingers to establish an electrical connection with the terminal.

Background of the invention The invention relates to terminals for computer memory frames and particularly to terminals for securing very fine magnet wires to memory frame connector blocks. Computer technology requires reduced size memory frames so that it is necessary to reduce the spacing between adjacent magnet wires on the frame. In conventional memory frames the magnet wire is wrapped around one end of a pin embedded in a block to establish an electrical connection. The pin extends from the other side of the block to enable a suitable connection to be made to a circuit element. Because of the size of the tooling required to establish a wire wrap connection between the magnet Wire and the pin, the spacing between pins is limited and it is not practical to obtain the close spacing of magnet wires now required.

It is also conventional to secure magnet Wires in memory frames by welding or soldering the wires to flush portions of contacts molded into connector blocks. In connections of this sort it is difficult to provide the minimum wire spacing now required. With this type of contact there is no assurance that the magnet wire is oriented in the proper location on the memory frame grid as the connection between the wire and the metal contact can be made on the flush contact surface with the wire slightly misaligned.

Summary of the invention The invention relates to a sheet metal formed terminal which is insertable into a cavity in a memory frame connector block and is provided at one end with a portion which extends from one side of the block. The mag net wire is threaded through two fingers on the exposed portion. The first finger accurately orients the magnet wire in the memory frame and the second finger defines a wire engaging recess so that when the wire is moved into the recess it is held in aligned position against the first finger. Further movement of the wire into the recess of the second finger jams the wire against the finger to frictionally hold the wire to the terminal and at the same time sever the wire. The fingers are spaced apart by a contact portion so that after the wire is oriented and physically attached to the terminal, the part of the wire which runs between the fingers may be welded or soldered to the contact portion to establish an electrical connection between the wire and the terminal. The other end of the terminal is provided with conventional wire and insulation grip barrels for establishing an electrical connection with a conductor.

By use of a memory frame terminal according to the invention it is possible to rapidly thread the wire through the terminal and with one motion secure the wire to the terminal in the proper position on the memory frame and sever the wire from the terminal. After the wiring of the entire memory frame has been completed, the magnetwires are welded or soldered to the terminals. Thus by use of the invention it is possible to materially reduce the amount of time required to Wire a memory frame while at the same time assuring that the wires are accurately located on the memory frame grid. The terminal cavities are molded into the memory frame block so that when the terminals are inserted therein the fingers are accurately aligned to receive and hold the magnet wire. The terminals are positioned on the memory frame connector block to provide the desired close spacing between adjacent magnet wires.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a terminal according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of one side of the terminal;

FIG. 3 is a view of a part of the other side of the terminal;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of part of a memory frame assembly showing a number of terminals mounted in a memory frame connector block with magnet wires attached thereto;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

Description of the preferred embodiment As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the memory frame terminal 10 includes a flat elongate body portion 12 with wire and insulation crimp barrels 14 and 16 formed at one end of the terminal. Flanges 18 are provided at each side of body 12 at the other end thereof and include stops 20 at the inner end of each flange. A spring latch 22 is cut from body 12 between flanges 18 and is bent out from the body so that it extends toward stops 20. The terminal 10 may be die formed from suitable sheet metal stock, such as brass or bronze.

U-shaped magnet wire orienting finger or hook 24 is located at the end of the terminal adjacent the latch and is formed from a portion of the body 12 which is bent through so that the interior opening of the finger opens toward the terminal. Orienting finger or hook 24 is located to one side of body 12 and a magnet wire securing and severing finger 26 is located at the other side of the body. Finger 26 is also formed from a bent-over portion of the body and shaped to define a narrow interior opening having the configuration of a shallow V as shown in FIG. 3 so that the magnet wire may be jammed into the V and physically secured to the finger. Fingers 24 and 26 are aligned to permit magnet wire to be fed through them in a single operation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the interior corners of the finger 26 away from the finger 24 are provided with wire severing edges 28 so that as the magnet wire is jammed into the finger, the edges 28 engage and sever-the wire. A flat contact portion 30 of body 12 extends between fingers '24 and 26 for establishing an electrical connection with the magnet wire.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, terminals may be mounted close together in tiers along memory frame connector block 40 with a magnet wire 42 attached to each terminal. Prior to mounting the terminals in the block, they are each attached to insulated wires 44 by crimping the wire and insulation barrels 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 7.

The terminals are mounted in the block 40 by inserting the finger end of the terminals through the openings 46 of cavities 48. When the terminals are fully seated in the cavities they are positively located in the block with stops 20 engaging one side of block flange 50 and spring latch 22 engaging the other side of the flange 50 to prevent axial movement of the terminal in the cavity. Lateral movement of the terminal in the cavity is prevented by a tight fit between the cavity walls and the upper end of the terminal. The cavity is recessed below flange 50 to prevent binding of the terminal in the block which could reduce the accuracy of location of the terminal. During insertion of the terminal into the cavity, latch 22 is compressed as it rides over flange 50 and snaps back to lock the terminal in the cavity when stops 20 engage the flange. When the terminal is seated in the block, fingers 24 and 26 and contact portion 30 project out of end 51 of cavity 48 and above the top of the block. Finger 24 of each terminal is located adjacent the memory frame (not shown).

The magnet wire 42 is attached to a thin needle and then is threaded through the memory frame and the open interiors of fingers 24 and 26 of one terminal so that when the wire is made taut it extends in a straight line across the memory frame and through both of the terminal fingers. After the wire has been threaded through the fingers, the end thereof adjacent finger 26 is moved upwardly to bring the wire into engagement with finger 24 so that it is located accurately on the memory frame and to wedge the wire into the shallow V of finger 26. Upward movement of the wire into the V frictionally secures the wire in the V and also brings it into contact with cutting edges 28 so that as the wire is secured in the V it is severed from the remainder of the wire. It is important to appreciate that the upward movement of the wire which results in physically securing the wire in the V defined by finger 26 and in severing it also assures that the wire is held in the recess of finger 24, thus properly locating the wire on the memory frame.

The fingers 24 and 26 are laterally spaced on the terminal so that portion 52 of the magnet wire 42 is positioned adjacent contact terminal portion 30. After all of the terminals on the memory frame connector block have been wired, portions 52 of the magnet wire adjacent each terminal contact portion 30 may be readily welded or soldered to the terminal to establish an electrical connection between the magnet wires 42 and wires 44 which are crimped to the terminals.

By spacing the fingers 24 and 2-6 along the axis of wire 42, the thickness of the terminal is reduced and the wires 42 can be mounted on the memory frame block at a close spacing. With the terminals 10 mounted in tiered or echelon relation as shown in FIG. 5, the individual magnet Wires can be reliably spaced 0.020 inch apart from each other.

Pairs of similar terminals '53, 54 may be used in the memory frame block where it is desirable to interconnect magnet wires 56 and 58. Wire '56 extends from terminal 60 across the memory frame to the opposite block and is bent around locating pins therein, extends 'back across the memory frame, and is connected to terminal 54. Magnet wire 58 extends from terminal 64 across the memory frame and is bent around locating pins and extends back across the memory frame and is attached to terminal 53.

Terminal pair 53, 54 is shown in further detail in FIG. 8. Terminal 53 is like terminal 10, and terminal 54 is similar to terminal 10 with the exception that the position of fingers 24 and 26 is reversed. In both terminals 53 and 54 finger 24 is positioned adjacent the memory frame. The terminals are secured to the memory frame 40 in an enlarged single cavity 66 with the flat back surfaces 68 of the terminals in abutment. Terminal latches 22 secure terminals 53 and 54 in the connector block. A suitable connection between the terminals may be provided through wires 70 or by other means to establish a reliable electrical connection between wires '56 and 58.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A terminal for establishing an electrical connection with a metal wire comprising a conductive body adapted to be mounted on a support with a portion thereof projecting from the support, contact means for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit element, said portion including a finger having a concave wire-engaging surface facing in a first direction, holding means for physically engaging the wire at a point spaced from said finger a distance in a direction opposite said first direction to hold the wire adjacent said portion, and a flat contact surface adjacent the segment of wire extending between said finger and said holding means for establishing an electrical connection with the wire.

2. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said holding rneans comprises a finger defining a V-shaped groove opening in said first direction and adapted to receive and frictionally engage the wire.

3. A terminal as in claim 2 wherein the open end of said V-shaped groove and said concave surface are aligned to facilitate threading of the wire through said finger and said holding means.

4. A terminal as in claim 2 wherein said holding means includes cutting means to aid severing of the wire following frictional engagement therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,559 4/1950 Miloche 339-258 2,833,998 5/1958 Alden 339-191 3,075,167 1/1963 Kinkaid 339-l76 3,417,366 12/1968 Holton et a1. 339--96 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339275; l7494 

